Val Edward Kilmer was named after a business associate of his father. Val has said that he didn’t much care for the name growing up, but likes it now because it is unique.

Kilmer was born on New Year’s Eve 1959 at the Griffith Park Maternity Ward, in Los Angeles, California. His family at that time lived in Marina del Rey, but later moved to Chatsworth, California in the San Fernando Valley.

He attended Chatsworth High School. Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham were classmates. Kilmer’s senior year was spent at the Hollywood Professional School. His college years were spent at famed Juilliard School of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Kilmer, at 17 when he started at Julliard, was the youngest student at that time to be accepted in their School of Drama. When he finished at Julliard his first gig was working in live theater.

Kilmer's father, Eugene D. Kilmer, died of cancer 4/26/93 at age 71. He was an aircraft parts distributor turned real estate developer. His mother Gladys was a housewife and for many years ran the family guest ranch in Arizona. They owned the Kay El Bar Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona. The Kay El Bar Ranch is a registered historic location. Kilmer has spoken of it as the place he and his brothers would perform skits for family and guests. His mother and father were divorced when je was nine. Kilmer has an older brother Mark, and a younger brother Wesley, who died in a drowning incident when Kilmer was 17.